Low end power . . . an excuse?

DreddR6 · 08-10-2004, 12:53 PM

When ever there is a discussion or arguement regarding 600 vs 1000, this one topic always comes up. People always say that the 1000 has more low end power. I am definetly not argueing against that. My question is this, is the low end power provided by todays modern age 600's not enough?

I have an 03 R6 and with 7-8 months of riding seat time it has close to 19k miles. The bike has been turned into a full time track bike now. I just now did a 520 conversion and have yet to ride it, so all those 19k miles have been on stock gearing.

I have also ridden R1's, 954s, SV650s, SV1000s, Honda Nighthawk 750s. With that being said, all of those had more "low end" power than my R6. However, my R6 has damn well enough low end power for anything I need it for. My bike has been through hell and back, all kinds of terrain, surfaces, traffic, weather, tracks, etc.

I have yet to experience a time when I thought to myself, holy shit, I could have used more low end power! I also here the arguement that well, you need to take the (insert 600) to the redline and be at the power band, stay in low gears, blah blah blah. On the track? Yea, I'll buy some of that. You def. want to be in the power band. However, on the street? I hear people saying they cruise around in 3rd and 4th gear to always have power... Power for what? Only time im in those low gears if im just taking off then I go right up to 6th for that ever so sweet mileage. Ya, if I'm hitting the twisties, obviously I'll be in the proper gear for those situations, but for going out cruising, highway, around town? I'm not keeping the bike in 3rd or 4th gear because I'll need the "extra low end power", all it does is waste gas, and create unwanted attention.

I have had people cut me off, merge into my lane, tail gate me, slam on their brakes infront of me, throw stuff at me, you name it. Not once have I not had enough power to accerlate out, or enough stopping power, or not be able to swerve out of the way of something.

I could list a whole page of examples and other thoughts on this, but I leave it open for discussion. Perhaps I am not looking at it the right way.

Again, I want to say I am not argueing that liter bikes have more low end power, or twins, etc. I damn well know they do. I also know about the "fun" factor, etc. I'm simply stating that from my experience, a modern day 600, an 03 R6 in my case, has more than enough low end power. Look at other countries around the world who have piss poor road conditions, piss poor traction, and they ride around on 250s, 400s, 500s, and a slew of scooters and other bikes with a lot lower low end, not to mention high end grunt...

So, is it more of an excuse to justify the want of a 1000? One day I'll have a 1000, and a V-twin. However, it won't be because I need more low end power. . .

CasterTroy · 08-10-2004, 01:03 PM

I hated staying in the upper RPMS for power

I hated the constant shifting

I hated the racket

I went to liter bikes because I'm lazy and didn't wanna shift to get power nor hear all that noise. Noone NEEDS anything more than a 600......I learned "cornerspeed" on a 600 and was damn fast on a 600..but just the simple fact of wanting power at my fingertips pushed me into getting a literbike

L8 Braker · 08-10-2004, 01:10 PM

Todays 600's are more bike than anyone would ever need...But if you (or anyone) is worried about low end power, go up 2 teeth in the back and down one in the front...Problem solved...

stoinkythepig · 08-10-2004, 02:05 PM

I think 600s have plenty of power. I'm likely in the minority but I ride quite a bit and tend to keep bikes awhile. I ride a ZX9R instead of a ZX6R because I know it'll last longer. Internal stresses (and therefore wear) in an engine increase with the square of speed so running at 6000 RPM does 4 times more wear than running at 3000 RPM. Since I'd like to get as many miles as possible, I got a bike that's "happy" at 3000 RPM. Being a rather large person, ultra light weight was not a high priority but comfort was, hence the porky but comfy 9R.

chesus · 08-10-2004, 02:09 PM

you cruise around in 6th?? i like to atleast be at ~6k rpm

i love riding the r6, i rode an r1 and although it is more of a beast, i couldnt justify getting it considering it weighs a little more, higher insurance costs, more bike to handle, more power to manage, maybe sometime down the road i will consider literbikes

snigg · 08-10-2004, 02:10 PM

i agree with castor(

)...im lazy. riding my roomates gixxer6 around is boring. when i take it in the twisties its fine but around town is really boring. 6's are pretty gutless below 7-9k rpm, or at least they seem like it going from my 954 to one. i can pass cars like they are standing still, in 6th gear, with my g/f on the back. Also, who wants to work for their wheelies???? liter bikes do the work for ya

snigg · 08-10-2004, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chesus

you cruise around in 6th?? i like to atleast be at ~6k rpm

i love riding the r6, i rode an r1 and although it is more of a beast, i couldnt justify getting it considering it weighs a little more, higher insurance costs, more bike to handle, more power to manage, maybe sometime down the road i will consider literbikes

once you go to the r1, i bet you dont go back to a 600.

neutom72 · 08-10-2004, 02:27 PM

I ride a 1000cc bike because of the low end power. There is no question that 600cc bikes are fast. The top end speed difference between the two doesn't mean squat to me. I ride a 1000cc bike so that I don't need to shift the shit out of it to stay in the power band. I've ridden many 600's and to ride around at 9000 rpms and higher for everyday riding isn't realistic for me. The FZR1000 is a five speed and I find that because of the additional torque over a 600cc I can stay in third gear for almost all riding. Constant shifting to me is a pain in the arsh. Like a few have said in the past... once you go 1000cc you may never ride a 600cc again.

usmktmkr · 08-10-2004, 02:41 PM

need, we need food water and shelter, the rest is a want and thats awhole other story
no doubt the 600's have power, obviusly enough for you, others want more and a different delivery of that power, btw what do you weigh, i ride with guys that are 150, im 220 and one of my buds is 280, if any bdy needs a 1000 its him
i think its a lame discussion

freeride · 08-10-2004, 03:05 PM

The low end power on today's 600ss is not enough. I mean, I NEED to go 0-60 quicker than three and a half seconds.

It's a rationalization.

chaOs · 08-10-2004, 03:08 PM

It's also the fact that, on a literbike, the power in the low end is smoother than the kind of power a 600 makes at 14 000 rpm.

They are just 2 different styles of riding. I'll take some corner just a gear lower so it's easy to get on the gas early and not fear the back wheel slipping.

I thought could'nt get near the 600's at Deal's Gap but one of my buddies on a Blackbird and myself on the 929 were as fast as them just because of the power we had coming out of corners.

Mykl · 08-10-2004, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snigg

once you go to the r1, i bet you dont go back to a 600.

I'd buy an R6 before I bought an R1.

vuu16v · 08-10-2004, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by usmktmkr

i think its a lame discussion

Then don't chime in. Simple, eh?

CasterTroy · 08-10-2004, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vuu16v

Then don't chime in. Simple, eh?

exactly...I was gonna post something witty to that effect, but couldn't word it the way I wanted to prevent coming off as an ass......that however was perfect

vuu16v · 08-10-2004, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CasterTroy

I was gonna post something witty to that effect, but couldn't word it the way I wanted to prevent coming off as an ass......

I'm slowly getting better at getting my point across w/o pissing people off. Well, that's my plan anyhoo. I'm sure some "pissing off" is still gonna happen, but at least I'm making an effort.

I can't count the number of times I just close out a reply page because it was getting ugly and I've finally figured out, "what's the point" and instead go read my daughter a book. She's not quite two and has probably read more books cover to cover than her daddy. I'm COMPLETELY kicking her ass when it comes to magazine reading though. NO CONTEST!!

I'm so un-learned.